A Love Story in Leather: Jim & Casandra's Intimate Wedding at The Story, Durham

Today was a wedding day I’ll never forget—and not just because I had the privilege of photographing it. This one was different. It was personal. It was the wedding of my cousin Jim to his beautiful bride Casandra, and it was held at one of Durham’s most unique and characterful venues: The Story.

Weddings are often a blend of tradition, sentiment, and creativity—but every so often, one comes along that breaks the mold entirely, and in doing so, becomes something truly unforgettable. Jim and Casandra did just that. Their wedding was unapologetically them: intimate, meaningful, and brimming with authenticity. From the guest list of just 26 close friends and family to the biker-chic dress code, this wedding was a celebration of love on their own terms. And I couldn’t have been prouder to be there, camera in hand, capturing it all.

The Venue: The Story, Durham

Tucked away in the heart of Durham, The Story was the perfect backdrop for Jim and Casandra’s wedding. With its rustic charm, classic stonework, and grand interior details, the venue offered a warm and unconventional canvas for the day's intimate events. The soft natural light, filtering in through tall windows, fell perfectly across the aged wood floors and amazing staircase that would later become the stage for the bride and groom’s private portrait session.

Despite the simplicity and size of the gathering, The Story felt alive with energy. The kind that only family, love, and shared history can create.

A Dress Code with a Difference

When most people imagine a wedding, they picture formal suits, pristine white dresses, and polished shoes. But Jim and Casandra had something entirely different in mind. Their vision was rooted in comfort, confidence, and a fierce expression of who they are.

Guests arrived in jeans, black shirts, biker boots and leather jackets. The vibe was casual but unmistakably cool. The choice to keep things low-key in attire allowed everyone to just be themselves. There was no pressure to impress—just an invitation to be present and real.

This casual aesthetic extended to the wedding party itself. Jim wore black jeans, a black shirt, solid boots, and his signature black leather biker jacket. His waist-length dreadlocks swayed gently in the spring breeze as he arrived outside the venue, and his monochrome tattoos peeked out from under his sleeves, each one a chapter of his story. Flanking him was his dad Neville, brother-in-law Dan, and his son-in-law Max—who stole a few glances of admiration himself in a pair of seriously stylish mirror shades. Adding to the uniqueness of the lineup were Shauna and Nicola, proudly taking their place not as bridesmaids, but as groomswomen—a brilliant twist that once again proved that tradition is only valuable if it serves you.

Casandra’s Grand Entrance

Then Casandra arrived. Her style mirrored Jim’s in the best way: fierce, minimal, and effortlessly elegant. She wore an off-the-shoulder black top paired with black jeans—a look that could not have been more fitting for the woman she is. Confident, radiant, and rooted in love.

Her arrival was nothing short of magical. She confidently strode into the venue with her mam and bridesmaids, again all dressed in black. Before the ceremony began, we had a quiet moment for some pre-service portraits with Casandra, her dad Kenneth, Max, and Emily. These photos were gentle and intimate—snapshots of a family on the brink of something beautiful. You could see the pride in their faces. You could feel the closeness.

And when it came time to walk down the aisle, Casandra was escorted by both Max and Emily, her two greatest sources of light. The symbolism of that shared journey down the aisle wasn’t lost on anyone watching. It was a passage not just into marriage but into a new, blended chapter of family life.

The Ceremony: Short, Sweet, and Full of Love

The ceremony itself was brief—but that brevity in no way lessened the impact. On the contrary, every word spoken and every glance exchanged was magnified by its intentionality. There were no elaborate readings or extended speeches. Just raw, unfiltered love. And joy. So much joy.

As I stood at the side, camera poised but heart completely absorbed, I noticed how every person in the room was leaning in—metaphorically and literally. It was the kind of service where you couldn’t help but smile. You weren’t just a witness; you were part of it. Every laugh, every teary eye, every hand held tightly in someone else's—it all added to the atmosphere of pure, undiluted happiness.

Jim and Casandra’s vows were full of love and honesty, and when they kissed, it felt like the punctuation mark on a sentence they’d already begun writing long ago.

The Portraits: Grand Staircases and Quiet Moments

After the ceremony, there was just enough time for a short portrait session with the newlyweds. Jim and Casandra made their way to the grand staircase inside The Story—its stone steps echoing quietly beneath their boots. The late afternoon light filtered in just right, casting shadows that wrapped around them as they held each other in quiet relief and giddy celebration.

There’s something incredibly special about photographing people you know, and these few minutes alone with Jim and Casandra gave me some of my favorite shots of the day. It wasn’t about posing or perfection. It was about connection. A look. A laugh. The way their bodies naturally leaned into one another, like the world outside could disappear and they wouldn’t even notice.

A Wedding That Was True to Them

And that was it—at least for this part of the day. Short and simple. Just as Jim and Casandra had wanted.

It’s easy to get swept up in the spectacle of a wedding—the big guest list, the ornate decor, the endless to-do lists. But what Jim and Casandra showed us today was that the most important part of any wedding is the couple at the heart of it. And when you strip everything else away, what remains is what truly matters.

They didn’t need fancy centerpieces or a long program of events. All they needed was each other, their kids, and the people who love them. And really, what more could you ask for?

What Comes Next: Celebrations at Bradbury Glade

Of course, this isn’t the end of the celebration. Later this afternoon there will be a party at Bradbury Glade—a beautiful venue nestled in the woods with room for a lot more people, food, music, and laughter. That’s a blog post all of its own, and I’ll share it in the next few days once I’ve had a chance to catch my breath and sort through the photos.

But this mornings ceremony at The Story stands on its own as something special. It was a celebration of individuality, of family, and most importantly, of love. And it reminded me why I do what I do.

Getting to photograph people I love as they make this kind of commitment is one of the greatest honours of my life. Jim and Casandra, thank you for trusting me with your story.

Here’s to a lifetime of black leather, big laughs, and deep love.

[Photographer’s Note]
To my fellow photographers and creatives: don’t underestimate the magic of small weddings. There’s a clarity to them, an emotional resonance that sometimes gets lost in larger-scale productions. At The Story in Durham, with just 26 guests, I felt more connected to the love in the room than I have in some of the biggest weddings I’ve shot.

And to couples planning your big day: make it yours. Wear what you want. Invite who matters. Let love be the theme, not expectation.

Until next time…

Stay tuned for part two: the evening celebrations at Bradbury Glade!